Statistical study of nanosecond electric breakdowns in n-hexane

Methods for analyzing statistical distributions of the breakdown delay time are generalized. A statistical approach is used to study electric breakdown in n-hexane in a 2.1-MV/cm quasi-uniform electric field at a pulse duration of ∼5×10⁻⁸ s. Two different mechanisms for the anode breakdown are shown to coexist and compete with each other. One of them incorporates the “bubble” stage, whereas the other one is related to ionization in the liquid itself. It is found that the weaker influence of the external pressure on the pulsed electric strength of liquids in the nanosecond range is caused by a transition to the ionization mechanism for the anode breakdown at elevated pressures.